Keeps it up for Rose
City, as the Portland Timbers coming off a rough road loss in CCL in midweek,
this league match meant the world for them, by keeping pace in their efforts of
making it into the league postseason.
Coming into today’s
match, the PTFC has an immaculate perfect record at home and still facing a
decimated Philadelphia Union, despite the visiting squad woes lately, the
locals winning streak was looking a bit risky.
Especially when some
of the Timber players that made the trek to the Monsters Den at San Jose, and
trying to shake off the jet lag and the overall fatigue from this strenuous
trip, today match forecast was not an easy affair.
After Portland Boss
Caleb Porter leaving some of his aces behind and resting them, these were going
to be the difference maker, with the creative and always dynamic Darlington
Nagbe, Alvas Powell, Jack Jewsbury and Liam Ridgewell as his hidden aces under
the sleeve.
Today’s match as all
of them for the PTFC are somehow challenging and with a Union seeking to shake
off its negative skid, they were betting on creating an all-around upset here
in Providence Park.
Since their playing
days the Philadelphia and Portland squads, in their six matches played the
Portland squad has won two times, lose one and three draws and last campaign
loss for the Rose City Boys came in Chester, PA when they lost to a 3-0 out.
As many expected to
see some of the Timbers players performing to their full potential, especially
the ones that played all the ninety minutes in Wednesdays match in Costa Rica,
one thing we saw from today’s match a very spirited squad.
Do not count Adi and
Diego Valeri out, the undisputable starters in both MLS and CCL play, still
with a few days rest these two became the heroes of the match and this thank to
a very valuable performance from a hungry Darren Mattocks, making his second
start.
As the Jamaican once
again coming from an injury riddled campaign, so far, he is making the grade
and with today’s performance, his Boss Caleb Porter has found his missing
playmaker in the Jamaican and taking advantage of his all-around speed.
As many state that
speed kills, right they are as the Reggae Boy became lethal to the Union
backfield with his playmaking, after showing off a slow start and not being involved
in many of his squad plays in the early minutes.
Despite seeing in the
earlier minutes, a very slow game offered between these two squads and just
going from one side of the field to the other, for both the Union and Timbers
strikers the opportunities coming, but unfortunate for both squads not making
anything happen.
By seeing how Jake
Gleeson the PTFC goalie making all sorts of opportune and game saving saves,
after surviving an early scare in the game, once gain the Kiwi has shown its
mettle and talent of why he is the sure starter.
Very well seeing how
the Timbers backfield played a wondrous match, despite both Steven Taylor and
Vytas playing in midweek along with Liam Ridgewell and Alvas Powell, these put
on an amazing performance and did not allowed any liberties to the Philly Boys.
To finalize the
Portland Timbers initial eleven that Manager Caleb Porter put in the field did
perform marvels and put on an amazing show to the thousands of souls gathered
today in the colossus of Morrison Street, even with the pouring rain and the
conditions of the field.
The Rose City squad
did managed to get its first score and Philadelphia Made an even game a minute
later, that the man of the match in Darren Mattocks, who showed off a total
ambition of becoming the overall starter in Caleb Porter book.
For now, the PTFC is
enjoying a comfortable lead above the red line with six and seven points over
Seattle, San Jose and Vancouver. As the
song states, were moving on up and with a couple of matches at Houston and
later Colorado, the heat is on for the Rose City squad to continue its winning
ways to assure its spot in the league postseason.
Post Contents and Property of Fern
Mc Costigan © Copyright All Rights Reserved
Photos Credit, Courtesy and Property
of © Eric Cech 2016
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2016
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